Game industry business news

While early access has become a key tool for independently-developed titles, it’s rare to see the strategy from a major publisher, beyond the usual late beta tests. Anno 1800, however, the Ubisoft title from developer Blue Byte announced yesterday at gamescom, will enter early access well over a year before …

Bandai Namco is returning to the world of Sword Art Online for its next RPG title, the publisher has announced. Revealed last week, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet will be taking fans into third-person shooter territory, blending its beloved RPG mechanics with fast-paced gunplay. Launching on PS4, Xbox One and digitally …

Atlus is to start publishing more games in Europe, according to Atlus USA’s senior PR manager Jacob Nahin. “Previously, we worked with Koch Media – they’re publishing Yakuza Kiwami, for example – but now we’re going to start to publish more titles ourselves over here,” Nahin told MCV@gamescom. Exact titles …

The East London Arts and Music Academy are working with the developer to make the first 'industry-led' games course

Retailer GAME just published its financial results for the year period ending July 29th 2017 and has seen some growth following the positive impact of the Switch launch, the report said. Sales at the High Street retailer in the UK were up 6.8 per cent year-on-year and 8.8 per cent …

No one can miss the massive Shadow of War poster outside the Koelnmesse, and that’s because the new entry in Warner Bros’ Middle-Earth franchise is the publisher’s biggest ever investment for one title, according to SVP of international Olivier Wolff. “[Our sales expectations] are massive,” he told MCV. “Top Five …

Just as EA has announced Battlefield 1’s new competitive mode, Incursions, EVP of global publishing Laura Miele has told MCV that the publisher’s continued focus on live services has “shifted the entire company.” She said: “There is an obligation that we have to players to keep content fresh and keep the …

Bandai Namco has announced a new strategic partnership with Life is Strange developer Dontnod Entertainment, MCV can exclusively reveal. The new partnership will see the creation of a brand-new IP based on a new narrative adventure experience. More details about the game, including platforms, a release date and whether it …

Project Cars 2 launches next month on PS4, Xbox One and PC, and Slightly Mad Studios CCO Rod Chong has told MCV how it’s going the extra mile to ensure maximum authenticity for its eager player base.  "Accuracy and authenticity is key for the Project Cars franchise. For us, our …

Europe has one of the most diverse VR user bases in the world, HTC’s EMEA virtual reality division Graham Breen has told MCV, and has been responsible for some of the most popular VR game titles the industry’s seen so far. "We don’t go into regional breakdowns in terms of …